He asked me.

You see he wanted to get off some of the dirt and blood before other folks saw me." "The dirt and--and--why, David, what do you mean?
What was it--an accident ?" David frowned and reflected a moment.
"No.

I did it on purpose.

I HAD to, you see," he finally elucidated.
"But there were six of them, and I got the worst of it." "David!" Miss Holbrook's voice was horrified.

"You don't mean--a fight!" "Yes'm.